PSAC video highlights cuts to federal labs and research funding

OTTAWA, April 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - The Public Service Alliance of Canada
released a new video as part of its Third Choice campaign today, ehighlighting the impact of cuts to federal labs and
science funding.

Since the announcement of the Federal Budget 2012 two weeks ago, the
government has quietly shut down several labs and research centres
across Canada. This will have a profound impact on the health and well
being of Canadians. The research done in these federal labs is
groundbreaking and protects human health and the environment.

More than $13 million in cuts to Environment Canada in 2012-13 will
slash scientific research and monitoring programs, eliminating federal
environmental reviews for major resource extraction projects. The
National Research Council recently told staff that it will wind down
research operations in Winnipeg and Calgary, laying off staff by the
end summer. Health Canada plans to cut more than $100 million in this
year alone, decimating the research capacity of the Public Health
Agency of Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and other
key policy areas.

The video features a giant squirrel trashing a government lab and
releasing the H1N1 virus into the air. The squirrel represents the
government and the reckless and dangerous cuts it is making to
government science. The government is forcing Canadians to choose
between a strong economy and strong public services, which is as absurd
as a giant squirrel showing up in a lab.

Paying off the deficit also seems like a great idea, until you realize
it comes at the expense of services like the development of life-saving
flu vaccines and other services which come from government investment
in scientific research.

"Cuts to government labs and scientific research threaten Canadians'
health, safety and economic security," says John Gordon, National
President of PSAC. "Now is the time to invest in research that will
promote clean energy, prevent illnesses and protect our environment.
Reckless cuts will leave Canada floundering in the midst of a
knowledge-based economy."

Visit ThirdChoice.ca to see the video and read a backgrounder on cuts to government labs and scientific
research.